Pilot light structure



" Dec. 15, 1970 A. J. BALON ,5

' PILOT LIVGHT' STRUCTURE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. ALBERT J. BALON United States Patent 3,547,570 PILOT LIGHT STRUCTURE Albert J. Balon, 9717 Greenhaven Parkway, Brecksville, Ohio 44141 Application Dec. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 692,061, which is a division of application Ser. No. 501,545, Oct. 22, 1965.

Divided and this application July 30, 1969, Ser. No.

Int. Cl. AOIn 9/30; A611; 13/00, 27/00; A611 13/00 US. Cl. 431-350 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pilot light, valve and tube assembly for a gas stove including a valve and connector and a pilot light interconnected by a tube having at least one orifice at the pilot light, a shoulder on the tube, threads on the tube intermediate the shoulder and orifice, a housing having a base and side wall, a threaded opening in the base for engaging the tube threads and an aperture in the housing side wall having a portion nearer the shoulder than the tube orifice, the valve and connector including a fitting having a hollow interior with an open end within which the tube is disposed with a close sliding fit, a circular flange extending along and having a greater diameter than the tube and bent into biting engagement with the tube, and a relief adjacent the engagement of the flange and tube which is filled with a sealant.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of applicants copending application Ser. No. 692,061 filed Dec. 20, 1967 which is a division of applicants application Ser. No. 501,545 filed Oct. 22, 1965, now US. Pat. No. 3,460,804.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention related to gas stoves and more particularly to a new and improved gas stove valve and tube assembly for pilot lights and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved valve and tube assembly for gas stoves, and the like, obtaining unobvious and unexpected benefits and advantages over prior assemblies.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved valve and tube assembly for gas stoves, and the like, including a new and improved valve and connector for connecting the assembly to the manifold for controlling the flow of a gas into the assembly and a new and improved housing and mounting for the pilot light.

Still further objects of this invention include the pro vision of a new and improved pilot light housing and mounting for a valve and tube assembly for a gas stove, and the like, and the provision of such a pilot light housing and mounting which is efiicient and effective in operation; which is economically manufactured and used; which is simple and foolproof in operation; which simplifies and improves the housing and mounting structure of prior art gas stove valve and tube assemblies; which requires no additional washers, nuts and the like for mounting on the stove, and the like; which complies with accepted safety standards and codes for both installation and use; and which may be used in and with a valve and tube assembly including a valve embodying this invention.

Other objects of this invention include the provision of 3,547,570 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 a new and improved valve and connector for a valve and tube assembly for a gas stove, and the like, and the pro vision of such a valve which is efficient and effective in operation; which is economically manufactured and used; which is safe, simple and foolproof in operation; which is easily adjusted to control or stop the flow of gas through the line; which has only a single moving part yet comprises both valve and coupling or connector by which the valve and tube assembly is secured to the filter, manifold or source of gas supply; which simplifies and improves the valve and coupling structure of prior art gas stove valve and tube assemblies; which complies with accepted safety standards and codes for both manufacture and use; which is simply and effectively mounted on and carried by the tube; and which may be used in and with a valve and tube assembly including a pilot light housing embodying this invention.

Still other objects of this invention include the provision of a new and improved valve for valve and tube assemblies for gas stoves, and the like, which also functions as a connector or coupling between the tube and gas source; which provides a rotatable or swiveling joint between the tube and valve fitting; which provides a safe and leakproof rotatable or swiveling joint between the tube and valve fitting; which provides an axial connection and interconnection between the gas source and the tube; which provides a range of adjustable flow control including no flow; which is adjustable without danger of leakage from the connector; which provides for simple and relative adjustment for a plurality of assemblies from a single filter or distributor so as to obviate the need for equal length pilot light tube assemblies; and which provides a new and improved seal between the valve and the socket within which the same is mounted.

Other objects of this invention include the provision of a new and improved valve for valve and tube assemblies, and the like, which is an axially acting valve providing a new and improved seal between the valve and the valve socket; which provides a safe and effective seal between valve and socket wherein the valve is adjustable without destruction of the seal; which utilizes the forces of the gas pressure in the source and resistance to tightening the valve into the socket to provide a better and more efficient seal; which has structure providing fast bleeding of the tube when the valve is turned on; which is easily positioned and mounted in a complementary socket of a supply source; and which is a new and unobvious structure obtaining new objects and advantages with new simplicity and at reduced cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved valve and tube assembly for gas stoves, and the like, obtaining one or more of the objects and advantages set forth above.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description of preferred forms thereof; reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a stove having a tube and valve assembly embodying a preferred form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the pilot housing and mounting embodying this invention;

FIG. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a tube and valve assembly embodying this invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a valve embodying this invention.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention is useful in gas cooking stoves, and the like, and comprises a new and improved valve and tube assembly for a gas pilot light, and the like, including a new and improved valve and connector and a new and improved pilot housing and mounting structure.

A valve and tube assembly, indicated generally at 1, FIG. 1, embodying this invention is shown, by way of example, in use on a conventional gas stove 2, having a gas supply line 4 terminating in a conventional manifold 5 from which a plurality of branch, feed or supply lines 7 lead to the respective burners 9, which are situated in openings 10 in stove top 12. Lines 7 are controlled, respectively, by valves 13. When a valve 13 is opened and the gas flows to the respective burner 9, the same is lighted by a pilot light which is also supplied from manifold 5 via a combination filter and distributor 15. Filter 15 is provided with a single threaded inlet 16 (FIG. 3) for connection with manifold 5 and a number of tapped sockets or outlets 17 (FIG. 4) equal to the number of pilot lights to be supplied therefrom. The entire pilot light apparatus including distributor, tube or pipe, pilot light member and housing is conventionally known as the harness.

All of the above is old and, per se, forms no part of the present invention.

Valve and tube assembly 1 includes a small tube or pipe 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed of suitable material, such as aluminum, and providing a gas conduit between the filter 15 and the pilot light, indicated generally at 20, embodying this invention.

In order to obtain the objects and advantages of this invention and provide a simple, effective, efficient and low cost pilot light 20, tube 18 is provided, at its outer end 21, with external threads 22, and, just inwardly thereof, with an external shoulder 24. Shoulder 24 is adapted to function as a stop for positioning and mounting or supporting the pilot light on the stove. Accordingly, end 21 of tube 18 extends through an aperture in a support bar 26, which is a part of the structure of stove 2. Aperture 25 has a diameter greater than the external diameter of threads 22 but less than external diameter of stop or shoulder 24. Thus, end 21 can only enter into aperture 25 until support 26 seats on shoulder 24. End 21 and threads 22 extend outwardly from shoulder 24 and above support 26 sufficiently so that threads 22 may be engaged and tightened upon above the support.

Shoulder 24 is formed integrally with and as a unitary part of tube 18, just inwardly of threads 22, by swaging, or other suitable means.

The pilot burns at one or more small orifices 28 provided at the end 21 of tube 18. The flame is protected, the pilot light mounting completed and the pilot light held in place by means of a pilot light housing 30. Housing 30 is conventiontly shaped and formed from a single piece of sheet metal to provide a cuplight member having bottom or base 31 and side wall 32. Base 31 is of greater external diameter than aperture 25 and has a central aperture 34 surrounded by an internally extending wall or sleeve 35 having threads 36 which are complementary to and engage threads 22 so that housing 30 may be tightened upon threads 22 and against support 26 to mount and hold the pilot light in position.

End 21 of tube 18 preferably extends, as shown, above threads 22 a short distance so as to position the flame higher within housing 30 and housing 30 is preferably provided with apertures or inlets 37 in wall 32 so that air may flow into the housing from below the level of the flame to provide a proper oxygen supply therefor.

Thus, this invention provides a simple, efiicient and economical pilot light, housing and mounting for valve and tube assemblies for stoves, and the like, comprising only a tube and the pilot housing member and obviating the need for separate washers, nuts or other members.

As noted above, valve and tube assembly 1 also includes a new and improved valve and coupling for coupling the pilot light tube to the filter 15 and controlling the How of gas from the manifold to the pilot light.

The valve embodying a preferred form of this invention comprises a single fitting 40 extending axially from the end of tube 18 and obviating the need for a separate coupling and valve mechanism while providing a wide range of easily adjusted flow control, including stoppage of all flow, without leakage or similar danger. Further, fitting 40 in the preferred embodiment of this invention, also, provides for relative rotational movement between the tube 18 and the filter 15, thereby providing both swiveling or rotation of the pilot light relative to the filter and adjustment of the valve with attendant rotation of the fitting 40 relative to the tube 18 without otherwise disturbing the completed assembly, introducing gas leaks or interfering with the pilot light, and the valve and tube assembly, its mounting on the stove connection with the manifold and/or its function.

More particularly, as best seen in FIG. 4, fitting 40 is of generally cylindrical shape with a hollow interior 41 which is in direct communication with the interior of tube 18. Interior 41 is closed at its outer or valve end by wall 43 and a lateral passageway or bore 44, provides an inlet to interior 41.

In order to rotatably mount fitting 40 on tube 18, the interior 41 is counterbored as at 46 to provide an interior diameter having a sliding fit with the exterior of tube 18 and a seat 47 against which the tip of the tube seats when the fitting and tube are assembled.

In addition, fitting 40 is formed with an axially extending flange or lip 49, having a greater internal diameter than counterbore 46 and length sufiicient so that the lip can be deformed, as by spinning, into biting and sealing engagement with tube 18, as shown at 51. Engagement 51 is circumferential and not only prevents disengagement of the tube and fiitting but also provides for swiveling or relative rotation between the fitting 40 and tube 18 to and for the purposes set forth above.

The engagement 51 is effected, on the one hand, because fitting 40 is harder than tube 18 and is rendered more effective, on the other hand, by first coating tube 18 with a sealant 52, such as a grease remaining stable up to 750 F. Tube 18 is coated with sealant 52 before fitting 40 is slipped over the end, and, as the tube is spun to effect the swivel joint by forcing lip 49 into tube 18 with a suitable tool, the sealant in part remains between the fitting and tube along the meeting cylindrical portions thereof, i.e., along counterbore 46 and in part collects in and packs and seals in the relief 53, immediately adjacent the engagement 51.

The connection between fitting 40 and tube 18 is, thus, leakproof and rotatable, and although unobvious, obtains the other objects and advantages of this invention in this respect.

In order to connect the tube 18 with the filter 15 in an adjustable, sealing engagement, fitting 40 is provided with external threads 55, spaced slightly from the end 43 of the fitting and adapted to have a loose fit with the internal threads 56 in the socket or bore 58 of the filter so that the fitting may be easily and readily engaged in and hand-tightened into the filter. The length of the fitting from end 43 to the end of threads 55 remote from end 43 is less than the depth of the bore 58 between the bore seat 59 and the outer end of the threads 56, so that the fitting is not seated at the completion of hand-tightening. In addittion, seat 59 is tapered and end 43 of fitting 40 is provided with a noncomplementary chamfer or radius 61 so that a line engagement is effected between the fitting 40 and the seat 59 when the fitting is fully seated and tightened into the filter.

The lateral bore 44 opens intermediate the end 43 and threads 55 of fitting 40 so that the gas, under manifold pressure, may flow about end 43 and through bore 44 into the interior 41 of fitting 40 and thence through the tube 18 to the pilot light 20, when the valve is opened, but is stopped or turned off when the chamfer 61 engages seat 59.

In order to provide a gastight seal between the fitting 40 andfilter 15, when the valve is opened and in order to facilitate the engagement and mounting of the fitting (valve) and pipe in the filter, threads 55 have a loose fit with threads 56 of the filter, so that the fitting can be positioned easily in the filter and then hand-tightened for the length of the threads 55 to complete the initial engagement. Further, threads 55 are held to a relatively few in number and immediately inwardly thereof, downwardly as viewed in FIG. 4, fitting 40 is provided with a cylindrical body portion or shank 62, which has an external diameter slightly greater than the minimum internal diameter of the threads 56 on the filter.

Thus, the fitting is easily hand-tightened for the length of the threads 55actually until the leading edge 64 of shank 62 engages the top of the first or outermost thread of threads 56 and so the fitting is easily mounted and engaged. Further, as noted above, the length of the fitting intermediate end 43 and the leading edge 64 of shank 62 is such, relative to the depth of the bore 58 in the filter 15, that the end 43 and chamfer 61 of fitting 40 are spaced from seat 59 of the filter, when hand-tightened, a distance greater than the distance between chamfer and seat in the open position by enough to provide a sealing engagement between the lateral wall of shank 62 and the threads 56 in the manner of this invention, when assembly of the fitting therein is completed as set forth below.

The seal develops and forms as the fitting is turned further into the socket 58, after engagement between edge 64 and outermost thread 56, by conventional means, such as a wrench. The fitting, having a greater diameter, at shank 62 and being of harder material (brass vs. aluminum, for example) deforms and distorts the tips of threads 56, as shown in FIG. 4, at 65, for example, so that a sealing engagement is formed as the fitting is tightened until fully seated with chamfer 61 in engagement with seat 59. Further, the seal 65 is such that the fitting may be backed off to open the valve, and the valve be adjusted, without loss of seal, so that gas flowing past the open valve is diverted through the aperture 44 and into the interior 41 of fitting 40, as set forth above.

Further, the resistance to the entry of the fitting 40 into the socket 58, as shank 62 engages and deforms the threads 56, has the effect, as applicant understands it, of displacing the threads 55 of the fitting 40 outwardly relative to the threads 56 of filter 15, because of the drag on or resistance to the fitting, as shank 62 enters into the socket 58 with the result that the threads 55 and 56 mate and engage tightly on the outwardly side of threads 55 and the inwardly side of threads 56. And, of course, the pressure of gas within the system and on the inlet side of the valve also tends to strengthen this seal since there is no pressure on the exit side of the valve, the pilot light orifice being in free and open communication with the atmosphere, at all times.

Fitting 40 as shown, also has the advantage of having a fiat end and a large circumferential engagement (between chamfer 61 and seat 59) when closed, with the result that opening of the valve provides fast bleeding of the gas through the valve opening around the end of the fitting and into the aperture 44, interior 41 of the fitting 40 and tube 18, so that tube 18 is cleared quickly of air (filled with gas) to provide for lighting of the pilot light markedly faster than with valves now commonly used for such purposes.

Fitting 40 is also conveniently provided with a hexagonal, as shown, or other noncircular, exterior body portion -67, FIGS. 3 and 4, in order to facilitate engagement of the fitting with a wrench, or the like, in order to tighten the same, and open and close the valve.

Further, while the valve and tube assembly of this invention has been described as a unit, it is to be understood that tubes and pilot housings, embodying this invention, may be used with other types and kinds of valves and coupling assemblies and that valves, embodying this invention, may be used with tubes having other pilot house structures and in other and different applications wherein valves obtaining the objects and advantages of this invention are or may be useful and advantageous.

Modifications and changes to the preferred forms of the invention disclosed herein may occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the principles and precepts thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the patent to be issued hereon should not be limited to the forms of the invention herein specifically depicted and described but by the advance by which the invention has promoted the art.

I claim:

1. A pilot light, valve and tube assembly comprising valve and connector means, a tube having ends, and a pilot light, said pilot light comprising at least one orifice at one end of said tube, a shoulder on said tube a predetermined distance from said one end, threads on said tube intermediate said shoulder and orifice, a housing having a base and side wall, a threaded opening in said base for engaging said threads on said tube, at least one aperture in said housing side wall having a portion axially nearer said shoulder than said orifice, said valve and connector means comprising a fitting having a hollow interior with one end open, said tube being disposed in said open end of said fitting and having a close sliding fit with at least a portion of said fitting, a circular flange extending axially from said fitting in a direction away from said close sliding fit with said tube and having a greater diameter than the external diameter of said tube and being of harder material than said tube, said flange being bent into biting engagement with said tube and forming a relief adjacent said engagement with said tube, and a sealant disposed about said tube intermediate said tube and fitting and filling said relief, said engagement between said fitting and tube providing for relative rotation therebetween.

2. The pilot light, valve and tube assembly according to claim 1 in which said fitting has an internal seat further from said open end than said close sliding fit with said tube and said tube in positioned against said seat.

3. The pilot light, valve and tube assembly according to claim 2 in which the other end of said fitting is closed, external threads on said fitting for engaging threads on a socket with which said means is to be used, said closed end being adapted to engage a seat in the socket to provide a seal when said closed end engages said socket seat, a cylindrical shank on said fitting more remote from said closed end than said fitting threads, said shank having a greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the threads of said socket and having a leading edge spaced from said closed end a lesser distance than the outermost thread of said socket is spaced from said socket seat, said shank being harder than said socket threads for bending and deforming said socket threads into sealing, rotatably adjustable engagement with said shank when said fitting enters into said socket, a lateral bore in said fitting intermediate said closed end and said shank and providing a passageway for gas to enter said hollow interior of said fitting.

4. The pilot light, valve and tube assembly according to claim 1 in which the other end of said fitting is closed, external threads on said fitting for engaging threads on a socket with which said means is to be used, said closed end being adapted to engage a seat in the socket to provide a seal when said closed end engages said socket seat, a cylindrical shank on said fitting more remote from said closed end than said fitting threads, said shank having a greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the threads of said socket and having a leading edge spaced from said closed end a lesser distance than the outermost thread of said socket is spaced from said socket seat, said shank being harder than said socket threads for bending and deforming said socket threads into sealing, rotatably adjustable engagement with said shank when said fitting enters into said socket, a lateral bore in said fitting intermediate said closed end and said shank and providing a passageway for gas to enter said hollow interior of said fitting.

5. The pilot light, valve and tube assembly according to claim 4 win which closed end of said fitting has a pitch difierent from the pitch of said socket seat to provide a line seal therewith.

6. A pilot light, valve and tube assembly comprising a socket in a gas source, valve means, a tube having ends, and a pilot light, said pilot light comprising at least one orifice at one end of said tube, a shoulder on said tube a predetermined distance from said one end, threads on said tube intermediate said shoulder and orifice, a housing having a base and side wall, an internally threaded opening in said base for engaging said threads on said tube, at least one aperture in said housing side wall having at least a portion thereof axially nearer said shoulder than said orifice, said socket comprising a bore having a side wall with internal threads therein, an orifice through which gas fiows into the socket, and a seat extending inwardly from said side wall to said socket orifice, said valve means comprising a fitting having an axially extending bore therein opening at one end and closed at the other end, external threads on said fitting for engaging and coacting with said socket threads, said closed end being noncomplementary to said seat to provide a seal when said end engages said seat, a shank on said fitting rearwardly of said fitting threads, said shank having a greater external diameter than the internal diameter of said socket threads and being spaced from said closed end a lesser distance than the outermost thread of said socket is spaced from said socket seat, said shank being harder than said socket threads and bending and deforming said socket threads into sealing rotatably adjustable engagement with said shank, a lateral bore opening intermediate said closed end and said shank and providing a passageway to said axial bore, said tube being positioned in said open end of said bore and having a close sliding engagement therewith, a circular flange on and extending axially from said fitting in a direction away from said closed end and having a greater internal diameter than the external diameter of said tube and being of harder material than said tube, said flange being bent into biting engagement with said tube and forming a relief adjacent said engagement with said tube, and a sealant disposed about said tube intermediate said tube and fitting and filling said relief, said engagement between said fitting and tube providing relative rotation therebetween.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, including a stove bracket having an aperture therein, said stove bracket aperture having a diameter slightly larger than said one end of said tube but smaller than said shoulder and housing base, said end of said one end of said tube extending through said stove bracket aperture with said bracket being engaged between said shoulder and housing base and supporting said pilot light and in position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,309 6/1910 Goodall et a1 25 1--351 1,642,373 9/1927 Leins 431-353 3,196,688 7/1965 Smith 251351X CARROLL B. DORITY, 1a., Primary Examiner 

